Looks like an early spring in Germany .... roll on the summer!! Ipheon Rolf Fiedler is to my mind the best blue ipheon. It does not thrive outside here but is very vigorous under glass ..... don't plant it in a bulb frame where it becomes a weed!

Forgive me that I don't mention the "C" word here but a question about I. `Rolf Feidler.' Mine grows very well outside and it didn't occur to me to think of it as other than quite hardey. However, it only gives a very few flowers. Is that perhaps because our summers may not be hot enough? Or why?

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Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

And your Crocus korolkowii pics are beautiful Thomas. I bought 3 forms from Marcus last autumn and they've done really well, flowering for 2 full months.

Did he tell you that he can't export crocuses this year because his MAF inspector found some yellowing leaves which were subsequently identified as a potyvirus. So no crocuses to NZ at least. A shame as he has so many that I DON't have, and all the ones I imported last season did so well.

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Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

Hi Maggi, yes it IS definitely a very long time since I visited you and Ian in Aberdeen.

Tony, many thanks for your information. I did not know there were any lilac hadriaticus with yellow throat in the Taigetos. I also visited Monemvasia this year, which is situated south of the Parnon Mts. in the Malea Peninsula. There was a display board with information about the native flora and Crocus hadriaticus ssp. parnonicus was said to occur on the summit of this small island but it was probably too early. According to "Wild Flowers of Greece, the Peloponnese" ssp. parnonicus also occurs south of Monemvasia.

Here are a few more croci from southern Greece for you all:-Crocus niveus in the Mani Peninsula, southern Peloponnesenear near its upper altitudinal limit (Ocotber 3rd 2006);-Crocus robertianus in open woodland, southern Pindus, October 21st 2005;-Crocus hadriaticus ssp. parnassicus, just west of Delphi, mid-October 2005.

Regards,

Kees Jan van Zwienen, Netherlands

Sorry, Crocus niveus was photographed at 1000m, not 100m! I did not find any crocuses in flower at lower altitude. By the way, the flowering season of autumn crocuses in Greece seems to start earlier up in the mountains. Perhaps due to cooler temperatures or a earlier rain?

I suppose there's a first time for everything: will it work, I ask myself?

Thought you'd like to see some images of crocus taken in SW Turkey in early December. We arrived after some days of rain and floods to wall to wall sunshine but, boy was it cold. Firstly, pics are of Crocus mathewi; these grow in the stony turf areas at the locality shown at c 2000m.

Welcome, Dave, great to have you join the forum after we have so enjoyed your essays in the articles section of the main site. You haven't quite cracked the image posting, I've tidied it for you... I sugesst you have a browse in the info threads... there's a lot of stuff there to iron out posting wrinkles!Cheers,Maggi

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Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

Worry is like a rocking chair, it will give you something to do but it won't get you anywhere."Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye."

Crocus mathewi is so perfect.. the forms with the darkest throats andthe whitest flowers... just the best of the best!

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Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

Worry is like a rocking chair, it will give you something to do but it won't get you anywhere."Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye."

Thanks, Maggi, I'll just have to try again. Here goes.This time some pics of Crocus cancellatus ssp lycius, a very common little plant scattered throughout much of Antalya region, occurring from sea level to well over 2000 m. Like C mathewi, seems to like growing as single bulbs dotted around, never in huge numbers; saw almost no clumps at all. C c ssp lycius sems highly variable, as this selections shows. The intensely divided styles are amazing.....

Well, C. wattiorum is something different, isn't it? Fantastic contrast of style colour and black anthers... and that outer feathering to echo the anther colour is lovely. Remind me again, what is it that is so exciting about snaw dreeps?

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Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

Worry is like a rocking chair, it will give you something to do but it won't get you anywhere."Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye."

My goodness. What an entrance Dave! Fabulous to see these crocuses in the wild. I'll be looking out for Crocus wattiorum, as it looks quite different. Stirling group meeting on Wednesday 6 Dec at 7.30 p.m. (check web site, but note it is in the Allan Centre in Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan, not Chalmers Church Hall).

Thanks for this note about Stirling Group meeting, Anthony, we'll get the details changed. M

Beautiful!! I haven't come across the C. wattiorum before, but it definitely looks well worthwhile growing. Must keep an eye out for it. The C. mathewii with the pure white petals and dark throat (with the beautiful orange style to contrast) is just SO striking. Such beautiful pics of a beautiful flower!! Well done!!